Mexican drug cartel leader convicted of drug charges

Jul. 25, 2018

WACO, Texas (AP) — A 38-year-old man authorities said had led the Zetas drug cartel in Mexico has been convicted of seven drug-trafficking charges.

Juan Francisco Trevino (treh-VEEN'-yoh) Chavez was the nephew of two previous bosses of the cartel, which has since fragmented into multiple cliques. Authorities say he was responsible for shipments of millions of pounds of drugs worth billions of dollars into Texas.

A federal jury deliberated for about two hours Tuesday in Waco before returning its verdicts on conspiracy to traffic drugs inland through South Texas, conspiracy to possess firearms and laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds. He could be sentenced to up to life in prison.

He was arrested nearly two years ago outside Houston. Records show he refused a plea deal that carried a 30-year prison sentence.